Means for cleaning metal sheets



July 3l, 1945. REED MEANS FOR CLEANING METAL SHEETS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 7, 1941 INVENTOR. E0 5550.

ATTORNEYS.

July 31, 1945. E. REED MEANS FOR CLEANING METAL SHEETS Filed Nov. 7, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTx Y E 0 R551;

AT TOR N EYS.

July 31, REED MEANS FOR CLEANING METAL SHEETS Filed Nov. 7, 1941 4 She ets-Sheet 5 22 115 I27 -113 124 116' 125 112 E 2 E: 11.7 I 1 25 E; 119 121 120 ;;p 122 1 3 i INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

,MY31'1945 E. REED 2,380,550

MEANS FOR CLEANING METAL SHEETS Filed Nov. '7, 1941 4 SheetsSheet 4 INVENTOR.

[0 R550. qt

Patented July 31, 1945 MEANS ron CLEANING Marni. snrm'r E Reed, Zanesvlll'e, Ohio, assignor to The American Rolling Mill Company, Middletown, Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Application November 7, 1941, Serial No. 418,227

6 Claims.

My invention has to do with cleaning m tal sheets, and a particular field of utility lies in freeing the surfaces of sheet metal from substances used as separators during annealing.

It is a common practice in the box annealing of sheet metal, or strip of sheet width, to coat the surfaces of the metal with a material which will prevent sticking during annealing. Suoh'substances are usually and most conveniently applied to the surfaces of the sheet metal in the form of'a slurry or suspension in a suitable vehicle, such as water. Some substances, like lime, after they have gone through the annealing cycle are comparatively easy to remove. Qther substances such as hydrated magnestium oxide form a paste or slurry of very considerable binding power. and even. after that dehydration of the magnesium hydroxide which occurs in the iur= nace, are exceedingly difficult to remove. By way of example, in the co-pending application of Messrs. Carpenter. Bell and Heck, Serial No. 389.962. filed April 23, 1941, there is described a rocess of producing silicon steel sheet materialbearing on its surfaces a thin insulating film of glassy character. Incident to this process, silicon steel sheet material at one stage of the process of manufacture has its surfaces coated with a slurry of hydrated magnesium oxide and is then dried. The coated strip is wound into coils or the coated sheets are stacked and are given an annealing treatment under particular conditions. not germane to the present invention. whereby magnetic qualities, in the sheets are brought to their optimum development, and whereby some of the magnesia combines with silica at the surfaces of the sheet metal to form the aforesaid glassy coating. After the sheet metal has cooled, there remains the problem of removing from its surfaces the excess magnesia, which will be found quite strongly adherent and quite tenacious.

One of the problems inherent in such removal is that of cleaning the surfaces of large quantities of sheet metal rapidly, efiiciently, economically. and above all dependably. The nature of the coating is such as to require for its removal vigorous brushing in the presence of water. A very serious problem has been the design of a machine providing vigorous brushing throuih which the materials could be led or read without damage. 'It has been found that side guides or other type guiding means could not be relied upon for this because revolving brushes tend to displace the sheet materials as they are fed. In many instances, guide means served to crumple edge portions of the sheet materials, and in other instances to fold, break or tear end portions of the sheets. I have found the best brushing action is obtained by revolving brushes against the sur= faces of the sheets'in a direction counter to the dlrectionof feeding of the sheets. .When thisis attempted however, the brushes themselves tend to mar, break, or turn back. the ends of the sheets. 4 Another problem involved is the provision of a machine in which the feedins of the sheets is properly synchronized so as to expose all parts of successive sheets to a ..thorough cleansing action. Still another problem is the provision of a machine which is edective both for strip materials and for individual sheets. dtili another problem is the provision of a machine which, within the limits of its ultimate Width ca== pacity, is useful for cleaning all widths of sheet or strip without special adjustment or the loss oi time in effecting change-over manipulations.

Fundamental objects of my invention are the solution of'the problems mentioned above and others which will be pointed out hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications. I accomph the objects of my invention by that certain con struction and arr-enactment of parts oi which i shall now describe an exemplary embodiment. Reference is first made to the drawings. where in: a

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus exclusive or feed and delivery tables.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken alons the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine taken along the line H of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, a line upon which it is taken being the line 4-4 of a. Fig. 5 is another transverse sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of a means for moving brush roll supports to compensate'for wear.

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary perspective view of a coupling whereby I provide quick removobility for my brush rolls. g 1

Fig. o is a sectional view taken along the line 8-! of Fla. 3.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken A along the line 0-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10-is a longitudinal sectional view of one of mymagnetic pullers. Fig. 11 is a partial perspective view showing a magnetic'unit employed in connection with roll of Fig. 10. g

Briefly in the practice of my invention. I provide a machine in which sheets or strip material are fed along between sets of pinch roll combinations interspaced from each other. Intermediate the pinch roll combinations I provide brush rolls, or

revolving brushes, different ones of these being so positioned as to act on the upper and lower sides of the sheet material being treated. In connection with each such brush roll. I provide a special form of support for the sheet material as the brush operates upon it. These supports, in the preferred form of my invention. are relatively large diameter rolls which are magnetized, or to the surfaces of which the sheets are bound by magnetic means, as will hereinafter be described. The effect of such supporting means, however, is not only to support the sheet metal as it is being treated by the revolving brush, but to prevent the brush from marring, breaking, or laying over the ends of the sheet material even though the brushes be driven at high speeds in a. direction counter to the direction of the movement of the sheet material. This is accomplished by causing the sheet material to cling to the surface of the roller over an area substantially as large or larger than the area of the surface of the sheet material upon which the brush i operating. While the sheet material follows a substantially straight line path between sets of rolls, it follows an arcuate path while in contact with the supporting rolls just referred to. This arcuate path" is enforced against the resilience of the sheet material; and the resilience is such that the sheet material will eventually release itself from the surface of the supporting rolls, but not until it has passed beyond the area of action of the brush. Or the magnetic attraction may be confined to that area in which it is desired that the sheet material conform to the surface of the support. In any event. as the end of a sheet or strip approaches the zone of action of a brush. it first contacts and is bound to the surface of a supporting roll in such a way that it cannot be bent, dislodged or broken by the. action of a revolving brush; and it is not released from the revolving support until it has passed beyond the zone of operation of the brush. When so released. however, it is free to follow a substantially rectilinear path to the next pair of rolls, and it is only necessary to provide guide means to insure its passage into the bite of the next pair of rolls. which guide means have no supporting function against the operation of the brushes, and need contact the sheet surfaces only upon the occurrence of substantial mis-alignment. Moreover. where a brush is operating on the under side of the sheet material, the supporting roll holds the sheet material up. The supporting rolls revolve with the sheet surfaces and exert thereon no frictional drag which would tend to mar or scratch the surfaces, or substances thereon such as the glassy coatings referred to above. For a similar reason I prefer to drive all rolls (excepting the brushes) in synchronism as to their peripheral speeds.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, upon .a base or foundation I0, I mount suitable side frames i I for my machine. Each frame is conveniently made of sections as shown; but if desired may be made all in one piece. Each frame is preferably formed with vertical ribs l2, l3. I4 and ii for strength. and to which solid supporting means, or ways for movable supporting means. may be attached as will hereinafter be explained. The side frames are solid in construction excepting where slotted for the removal of rolls, as will also be hereinafter described. This solid construction tends to confine the wash water to the interior of the machine. A suitable drain may be provided between the foundation members I0.

The sheet or strip material is fed into the machine from a conveyor or feed table, not shown. and in Figs. 1 and 3 passes through the machine from left to right, being caught upon a receiving table or receiving conveyor. also not shown. As it passes thr ugh the machine, in the exemplary embodiment it is first fed forward by a pair of pinch rolls i6 and H. Next it passes between a supporting roll i8 and a revolving brush l9. Next it passes between a pair of pinch rolls 20 and H, next beneath a supporting roll 22 and over a brush roll 23, and finally through rubber squeegee or wiping rolls 24 and 25. The construction, mounting, driving and adjustment of these elements will hereinafter be described. It will be noted in Fig. 3 that between the first pinch roll and the first brush and support combination,

I provide simple guide means 26 and 21. Similar guide means 28 and 29 may be located between the second pinch roll combination and the second support and brush roll combination. Guide means 30 and Bi may be located between the second support and brush roll combination and the wiping rolls. It may be noted that the shafts of all of the supporting and brush rolls thus far described extend through the side frames and have mountings or bearings outside them. To facilitate the removal or replacement of the first support and brush roll combination, I provide slots 32 in th side frames through which both rolls may be removed upwardly. The supporting roll for the second such combination may be removed upwardly through a slot 33. The brush roll of this combination may be removed downwardly through a slot, in the central side frame member, which connects with a horizontal slot 35. the ribs on the side frame members being cut away to clear the ends of the brush roll shaft, as indicated at it in Fig. 2.

The first set of pinch rolls, i6, i1. is detailed n Fig. 8. The rolls themselves are of any suitable construction, being shown as hollow sleeves mounted upon end members attached to shafts 31 and 381. The shaft 31. may be made movable up and down in ways 40 on extensions Ila of the side frame members. The shaft 38 has stationary bearings H on these extensions. It is not necessaryto drive both rolls of the pinch combinations. though both may be driven if desired. I have shown a pinion 42 on the shaft 38 meshing with a pinion 3 on the shaft H extending across the This shaft is machine below the pinch rolls. mounted in bearings 65 on brackets 46 attached to the side frame extensions Ha. At its opposite end the drive shaft 44 for the first set of pinch rolls bears a gear 41, the purpose of which will hereinafter be set forth.

The second pinch roll combination 20, It may be the same in detail as that shown in Fig. 8, and may have an exactly similar drive comprising a drive shaft geared to the lower pinch roll 2i and bearing a gear 49. Bothgears 41 and 49 mesh with a gear 50 on the supporting roll l8, so that the lower pinch roll of both combinations and the lower supporting roll of the first brush and sup-' porting roll combination are geared together to turn at the same peripheral speed, and to be driven by a single prime mover. This is the motor it. which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It is mounted upon a shelf orsupport 52, fastened between the side frame ribs l2 and if. It may if desired be provided with a gear box 53, the shaft 54 of which about 90. Needless to say is provided with a gear ll meshing with the gear 50 on the supporting roll I8. It may be noted in Fig. 2 that such gearing as is located inside the side frame members may be provided with shields Fig. 3 and is detailed in Figs. and 11. It comprises a stationary shaft 8|, which is mounted in supports 82 on brackets '83 on the side frame members H. The roll proper is the cylindrical member I8, fastened to side flanges 04. These flanges are mounted by means of roller bearings 65 or their equivalent on the shaft 8|. The gear 50 is non-rotatively fastened to a sleeve on one of the flanges, so that it may drive the flanges and the cylindrical member I8. Guide rings 88 may be provided at the ends of the cylindrical member, and the relationship of the parts is such as to keep water out of the interior of the roll, where the magnetic mechanism is located.

The construction of the magnetic means may be varied of course. -I prefer to provide it in the form of a plurality of individual units, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 11. Each unit has a core comprising a sleeve-like member 81 to each end of which is attached a pole piece 88. The outer edges 69 of these pole pieces are shaped to conform to the interior circumference of the cylindrical member I8, and to lie closely adjacent thereto without touching it. The longitudinal extent of the curved ends of the pole pieces is made substantially equal to the width of that area of the roll I 8 over which the sheet material being cleaned is expected to be bound. Over the sleeve portion 61 of the core, and between the pole pieces, I provide a coil I0. As determined by the length of the supporting roll proper, a -number of these units are slipped over the shaft 6 I, aligned thereon so that their pole pieces point in the same diof metal passing through my machines daily. the wear on brushes is relatively rapid. I provide means which not only permit a rapid and convenient replacement of brushes, but also permit variation of the position of the brush rolls to compensate for wear so long as the brushes are still usable. Reference to Fig. 2 will indicate that at one side of my machine I mount a short stub shaft 14 in suitable bearing means 15 which is slidable up and down. This is accomplished a by mounting the bearing on a support I6 (Fig. 1) vertically slidable on ways II. The bearing and rection, and non-rotatably fastened thereto by the set screws II, by splines, or by equivalent means.

Power leads 12 may be passed into the hollow interior of the cylindrical member I8 through a perforation I3 in the stationary shaft BI. The power leads will be connected to the coils III in any suitable way. In actual practice, each of my supporting rollers contains ten coils connected in series across 225 volts direct current, consumin approximately 1200 watts. The sector shaped'pole pieces of my magnetic units embody an arc of these figures are exemplary and not limiting. The pole pieces, of course, point towardthe brush roll used with the supporting roll. v

The cylinder I8 is made of some non-magnetic, metallic or non-metallic substance. In practice, my cylindrical members are made of non-magnetic stainless steel, about three-eighths inch in thickness.

The construction of the other supporting roll 22 is the same as that just described.

The brush rolls I8 and may be any type of rotary brush structure capable of exerting the necessary scrubbing action. In practice, my brushes are made of Tampico bristles, nickel silver wire, plain steel wire, bronze or brass wire or combinations of any of these wires or-bristles, set in suitable holding means and mounted on a shaft which projects from each end of the brush portion proper. Since, with the great quantity its support are suspended by means of a threaded rod I8. At the other side of the frame I similarly mount on ways 18 a box shaped support 80, suspended by a threaded rod 8|. To the support 80, Iattach a shelf or bracket 82 upon which I mount a motor 83 for the brush roll. The shaft 84 of this motor and the stub shaft ll each bear a readily separable coupling 85. One form of this coupling comprises a part fixed respectively to one of the shafts aforementioned, and a removable segment which may be held in place by means of bolts or their equivalent. The coupling provides a socketto accept the end of the shaft of the brush rolls. The end of the shaft and the socket are-squared or otherwise configured so that the brush shaft may be driven.

Another form of coupling is detailed in Fig. '1. Here the stub shaft Ila is made in the form of a hollow sleeve, and carries within it another shaft 'llb. This shaft is provided with a spline groove I28, and a pin I29 in the shaft 18a provides for the sliding of the shaft 'I-Ib within the shaft Ila but prevents its rotation therein. A threaded rod I with a squared outer end, ro tatably but non-slidably engages the shaft 'IIb, and, operating in a nut at the end of shaft Ila, serves as a means of advancing and retracting shaft llb. The end of this shaft may be tapered as shown to fit into a socket on one end of the brush roll shaft HM, and this socket may have a pin I32 engaging in the spline groove I28.

At the other end, the brush roll shaft may engage in. a splined socket formed as part of a flanged coupling on the shaft of the motor 83. The manner in which the bearings for the brush roll and its coupled shaft are raised and lowered will be appreciated from a consideration of Figs. 2 and 6. Each of the threaded rods I8 or 8| engages an internally threaded worm gear 81 which meshes with the worm 88 or 88 on a common shaft 90. A housing 9| or 92 is provided for the worm and worm gear; and the shaft may also be housed by a sleeve 93 if desired. The shaft 88 is coupled to a worm gear and worm combination 94 which is connected to a small electric motor 95 (Fig. 1). It will be understood that the motor is' provided with suitable power connections and controls so'that the brush I9 may be raised or loweredas may be required. These are not shown. The motor 83 is provided with power connections and controls (not shown). It is the motor which drives the brush roll I9. In normal operation I cause my' brushes to travel counter to the direction of sheet travel at a speed of 600 to 1200 revolutions per minute but other speeds may also be used.

The second brush roll and supporting roll combination is detailed in Fig. 4. Here the supporting roll 22, of the same construction as has been described above. is mounted on the frame in shaft holders 86 an 81. A bearing 88 for the stub shaft 88 of the brush r011 28 is mounted on ways I88. At the other side of the frame a bracket and lowering the brush roll 23 is shown at I06 in Fig. 1.

The supporting roll 22 is provided with a gear I01 meshing with a gear I08 on the shaft of a gear box I09 connected with a motor IIO. This motor drives the supporting roll 22. Motors I02,

. I06, and H are provided with connection to power and appropriate controllersj and I prefer to interconnect motor IIO with motor SI for the first brush roll and supporting roll combination in-such a way that the motors are synchronized and so that several sets of pinch rolls and the supporting rolls are driven at the same peripheral speeds. The brush roll 23 is like brush roll I9 and is driven byits motor I02, preferably counter to the direction of movement of the sheet material, and at the speeds set forth above. The brush roll is mounted in couplings 85 similar to the ones described above. I have already indicated that the removal of brush roll 23 from the machine may be accomplished downwardly through slots 34 and 35 when the couplings 85 have been isassembled.

The Fig. 3 will show various means for the delivery of water to the surfaces of the sheet metal being operated upon. These means are preferably in the form of pipes or conduits extending transversely of the sheet material and provided with perforations at intervals or with jet forming spouts. Water delivery means are 7 indicated at III, and an exemplary placement of them will be clear from Fig. 3.

The mounting and drive for the rubber wiping or squeegeeing rolls 24, 25 is detailed in Fig. 5. The upper roll has bearings H2 and III slidable on ways I I4 on the frame of the machine. Downward pressure on the bearings is maintained by on a common shaft I2I; but since the wear on the wiping rolls will be much less than the wear on the brush rolls, and since the upper wiping roll has a resilient mounting, I have found it suilicient to fasten a hand wheel I22 to the end of the shaft I2I, instead of providing a motor drive.

A drive for the lower wiping roll is, however, provided. A motor I2; is connected through a change speed mechanism I24 to a gear box I25.

- The driven shaft I20 of this gear box is located to one side of the shaft 25a of the lower wiping roll (see Fig. l) and is coupled thereto by a chain and sprocket or other suitable drive, in such a way that the drive is effective irrespective of the position of the shaft 25a.

The frame of the machine may be slotted as at I21 to permit removal and replacement of the wiping rolls.

The operation of the machine will be clear from the foregoing description. It will be noted that the sheet material is fed through the machine and is scrubbed, while completely supported over the scrubbingareas. It is then wiped. In my practice I have found this machine capable of handling and cleaning 40,000 pounds of silicon steel sheet material of transformer gauge every eight hours.

Modifications may ber'made in my invention without departing from the spirit of it.

Having thus described my invention in an exemplary embodiment, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a rotary supporting roll adapted to contact one surface of sheet material to be operated upon, operating means to contact the other surface of said sheet material, said supporting roll having magnetic means to bind the sheet material to its surface over a-limited area which is at least as great as the operating area of said operating means, but

not substantially larger, said supporting roll comprising a hollow non-magnetic cylindrical member joumaled for rotation at the same peripheral speed as the speed .of travel of said sheet material, a stationary shaft mounted interiorly of said drical member, said pole pieces having an extent transverse the axis of said cylindrical member at least as great as the width of the area of operation of said operating means and in which said operating means is a rotary brush mounted on a shaft having bearings, said bearings being slidable toward and away from the axis of said supporting roll, means for moving each of said bearings, and a common operating connection between said moving means.

2. In a machine of the character described, a housing, a pair of pinch rolls, a rotary brush and an opposed supporting roll, a pair of pinch rolls, a rotary brush and an opposed supporting roll,

and a pair of wiping rolls, said elements beingarranged in the order named, said brushes being arranged respectively to contact upper and lower surfaces of sheet material passing through said machine, said supporting rolls being provided with magnetic means to bind the sheet material to their surfaces over areas at least as great as the areas of operation of said brushes, and means engaging the material between the pairs of rolls a motor and a gear drive from said motor to a roll of each of said pinch roll pairs and to one of said supporting rolls, and a second motor drive for the second of said supporting rolls, said motor drives being synchronized.

3. In a machine of the character described, a housing, a pair of pinch rolls, a rotary brush and an opposed supporting roll, a pair of pinch rolls, a rotary brushand an opposed supporing roll, and a pair of wiping rolls, said elements being arranged in the order named, said brushes being arranged respectively to contact upper and lower surfaces of sheet material passing through said machine, said supporting rolls being provided with magnetic means to bind the sheet material to their surfaces over areas at least as great as the areas of operation of said brushes, and means engaging the material between the pairs of rolls hereinabove set forth, said magnetic means being limited in area to release said material to said engaging means, and means for driving a roll of each of said pinch roll pairs, said supporting rolls and a roll of said wiping r011 pair at the same change speed mechanism.

4. In a machine of the character described, a housing, a pair of pinch rolls, a rotary brush and an opposed supporting roll, a pair of pinch rolls, a rotary brush and an opposed supporting roll, and a pair of wiping rolls, said elements being arranged in the order named, said brushes being arranged respectively to contact upper and lower surfaces of sheet material passing through said machine, said supporting rolls being provided withmagnetic means to bind the sheet material to their surfaces over areas at least as great as the areas of operation of said brushes, and means engaging the material between the pairs of rolls hereinabove set forth, said magnetic means being limited in areato release said material to said engaging means, and means for driving a roll of each of said pinch roll pairs, said supporting rolls and a roll of said wiping r011 pair at the same peripheral speeds, said driving means comprising a motor and a gear drive. from said motor to a roll of each of said pinch roll pairs and to one of said supporting rolls, and a second motor drive for the second of said supporting rolls, said motor drives being synchronized, and means for raising and lowering said brushing means to compensate for wear, and means for driving said brushing means in a direction counter to the direction of movement of said sheet material through said machine.

5. In a machine of the character described, a housing, a pair of pinch rolls; a rotary brush and an opposed supporting roll, a pair of pinch rolls, a rotary brush and an opposed supporting roll, and a pair of wiping rolls, said elements bein arranged in the order named, said brushes being arranged respectively to contact upper and lower surfaces of sheet material passing through said.

machine, said supporting rolls being provided with magnetic means to bind the sheet material to their surfaces'over areas at least as great as the areas of operation of said brushes, and means engaging the material between the pairs of rolls hereinabove set forth, said magnetic means being limited in area to release said material to said engaging means, and means for driving a roll of each of said pinch roll pairs, said supporting rolls and a roll of said wiping r011 pair at the same peripheral speeds, said driving means comprising a-motor and a gear drive from said motor to a roll of each of said pinch roll pairs and to one of said supporting rolls, and a second motor drive for the second of said supporting rolls, said motor drives being synchronized, and means for raising and lowering said brushing means to compensate for wear, means for driving said brushing means in a direction counter to the direction of movement of said sheet material through said machine, means for raising and lowering one of said wiping rolls, and means for delivering a fluid to the'surfaces of said sheet material in said housing.

6. In a machine of the class described, a housing, means for moving sheet material through said housing in a path having substantially rectilinear components, rotary brushing means in said housing for operating upon the surfaces of said sheet material, supporting rolls opposite said rotary brushing means for supporting said sheet material while its surfaces are being brushed, said supporting rolls having magnetic means for binding said sheet material to their surfaces over areas at least as great as theareas of operation ofsaid brushing means, whereby said sheet material is forced to follow an arcuate path while in contact with said supporting rolls, and is magnetically released beyond the area of said operation, said means for moving said sheet material comprising pinch roll pairs, said housing also containing wiping rolls, means in said housing for delivering a fluid to the surfaces of said sheet material, and guide means in said housing for enforcingmovement of said sheet material from element to element.

E0 REED. 

